Articles
Forsaking Our Idols
Life is so much easier when we can fit things into nice tidy boxes. We observe other homeschool moms in action and we categorize them: soccer mom, unschooler, crunchy con, classical ed mom, …
Once we’ve gotten everybody into their nice boxes we pretty much already have an idea of which group we’d prefer to identify with based upon our impressions of the contents of each box.
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The Way That Seems Right to Man
“There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 16:25
When God says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed,” do we believe Him? Or do we follow the wisdom of man believing instead that our children need the companionship of age-mates and the formation by peers to become properly “socialized”?
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The Race is Theirs
Running is for loners. An advocate may recruit you, a good mentor may help you train, kind sponsors may purchase the equipment you need and cover your expenses, and enthusiastic people may cheer you from the sidelines. But in the end, the race is yours alone.
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On Being Thankful…and a freebie
At this time of year, it isn’t uncommon to hear someone express how little they have to be thankful for. But it is by being thankful in all of our circumstances that allows us to grow. Because, really, the quality of our lives boils down to how we see things. The battle starts in the mind.
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Become a Tutor
Today’s educational system has a focus on optimization – getting the most widgets through the process. It isn’t surprising then that frequently the system becomes the point of the exercise, that a grade will declare one educated irrespective of what one knows, or what skills one has developed or, unfortunately, failed to develop. This focus on the system carries with it a lack of respect for the individual. What if a student needs that extra time to master a concept before moving on? What if another student has already mastered the concept in question and is being held back while waiting for others to catch up. We need a method that allows one-on-one time and attention for each child. That is certainly something mothers are accustomed to providing.
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7 Ways to Identify Real Learning
One thing that keeps homeschool moms from breaking out of the traditional system of doing things is a lack of confidence that their children will actually learn something. We hope that the promises offered by a traditional structure provided from the outside – whether from the books, the schedule or state requirements – will produce the desired result. It takes considerable faith to believe that doing the same thing that has repeatedly failed to produce results will somehow end in a more fruitful result this time.
Look around you. Watch what your children are doing. Learn along side them. Journal and keep track of what you see. Is real learning taking place? Here are a few identifying characteristics to look for.
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Searching for the Right Homeschooling Approach
When we research the various approaches to learning, it is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the options. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, points of confusion, advocates and detractors. So how do you decide between them? You don’t have to!
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Setting the Pace
If my pace is too slow, I will be long in reaching my goal and receive fewer benefits.
If my pace is too fast, I may burn out before I reach my goal.
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The Prayers of the Righteous
Through the internet, the homeschool community abounds with those who offer prayers for other homeschool moms, whether they know the details of the request or not. Sure some can rely on their families, churches, and neighbors. But what about that lonely homeschool mom who finds herself without uplifting hands of support. There are hundreds of moms standing by ready to offer up prayers for her needs, as well.
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Perseverance
Perseverance.
It is something I feel finishing that 3-mile run, when the old hamstring injury starts to tug at my will.
It is something the young child feels when he says: “I can’t!” “I can’t”! I Can’t! … and then … “I CAN!”
And it is something the homeschool mom knows when dishes remain in the sink, laundry sits in piles on the bed, a stack of school books sit waiting to be checked, a child asks for help, a husband needs a favor, and health appointments keep her from home.
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